Yoda Yoga Trip!

People tend to throw up on day trips that I lead. Not always, but frequently enough that I get nervous to lead trips for fear of having to deal with vomit. So, whenever I decide to plan or to hop on a trip that someone else is planning that leaves early in the morning and lasts less than 12 hours, I always hesitate and ask myself if its a trip that is worth the risk of dealing with hangover or car sickness-related bodily fluids.

I’m partially kidding, because I enjoy leading lots of different kinds of trips and love spending time with NHOC leaders and participants, but another part of me is serious. However, I woke up on that mild day in early May when I was to lead a beach yoga trip with Spencer, Sohani and Clara, and immediately felt at ease. I had a strong feeling that this was going to be an incredible trip. We decided to lead this yoga trip on the beach at the end of March, almost two months ago, so finally being able to lead it on that fateful day in May felt like it was a long time coming.

I was nervous for each of the four of us to lead our own segment of yoga for a group of friends and strangers, for none of us are technically certified yoga teachers (or intense practicers). However, as soon as everyone started their flow, I felt all of my worries fall away. During our first round of sun salutations, the sun peaked out behind the fluffy white clouds and graced us with its light for the rest of our practice. It was incredible, and Spencer got a sunburn! We were all very confident leaders and the participants had a blast.

Leading this trip and my own segment of yoga, (I led shavasana and a meditation), allowed me to become more confident in my own voice and thoughts as a leader. I felt like I could inspire others with my words in those moments, and hope that I did. It’s a hard time of year for many college students with finals and projects consuming a lot of people’s time, so hopefully this yoga trip allowed people to feel safe, loved, and happy, at least for a little while. I’ll definitely be leading this trip again next year! -Adrienne

The sun beamed down on my face as I slowed my breathing, relaxing into the sand of the Wells, Maine harbor. As everyone in the group settled in for a peaceful shavasana, there was a loud squawk above us. Everyone laughed, breaking the comfortable quiet that had fallen since Adrienne, who was leading the group through a guided meditation, had encouraged us to tune into the surrounding environment. The laughing quieted, but the seagull did not, and one of the participants joked that everyone should keep their mouths closed for fear of an unfortunately-timed gift from the seagull. Eventually, the seagull went on its way and quiet fell once more, as the only sounds were the water softly lapping at the shore and the wind passing through the beach grass. Later on in the meditation, Adrienne reminded the group that there will always be distractions, like the seagull, but that it’s important to acknowledge them and then let them go. This moment was the perfect culmination of my first experience leading a trip. And then it got even better when we went to Las Olas for tacos! - Sohani